Environment & Energy Congressional Round-Up | January 5 - January 9, 2026

Highlights:

The House passed the Commerce, Justice, Science; Energy and Water Development; and Interior and Environment Appropriations Act of 2026 (H.R.6938), which provides appropriations to federal departments’ and agencies’ activities and programs related to commerce, law enforcement, science, energy and water development, public lands, and the environment for the 2026 fiscal year. Rep. Tom Cole (R-Okla.) introduced the bill. 

The House and Senate introduced the Better Care for PFAS Patients Act (H.R.6977/S.3598) to support Americans affected by per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Sens. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) and Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Reps Maxine Dexter (D-Ore.) and Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.) lead the bill, which ensures that the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Research assesses and updates their health guidance on PFAS exposure. To learn more about PFAS, check out EESI’s issue brief.

Sens. Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) and Tim Sheehy (R-Mont.) introduced the Community Protection and Wildfire Resilience Act (S.3609) to establish a grant program, which would provide $1 billion annually to empower community wildfire resilience. Reps. Jared Huffman (D-Calif.) and Jay Obernolte (R-Calif.) are expected to introduce companion legislation in the House. To learn more about wildfire resilience efforts, check out EESI’s new article “Heating Up Wildfire Solutions.” 

Reps. Josh Riley (D-N.Y.) and Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.) introduced H.R.6969. The bill would establish a program that compensates producers for using conservation practices in watersheds. Dig into EESI’s Farm Bill resources, including briefings, legislative side-by-sides, articles, and podcasts, here.

To catch up on all of the recent environmental and energy legislation in Congress, read the pdf here.